In this week’s inside look with an MBA student I had the chance to interview Jill Gramolini, (NYU Stern, ’16) Jill is a First-Year MBA student at NYU Stern, and hails from Belmont, Massachusetts. Jill previously worked in consulting and is hoping to pursue a career working in Luxury Retail. During our interview, Jill gave us some insights on life at Stern, opportunities to explore Luxury Retail, and her recruiting process.
Background
Name: Jill Gramolini
Year: 2016
School: NYU Stern
Previous Work Experience: Deloitte Consulting LLP
Undergraduate: University of Richmond
Stern Clubs & Activities: Luxury & Retail Club, Graduate Marketing Association
MBASchooled: Thanks for joining us Jill. First off, why did you choose NYU Stern?
Jill: I knew I wanted to be in a city, and I knew I wanted to be at a small-to-medium-sized school. I also knew I was interested in a few things that Stern does really well, specifically retail. The heart of New York City has been the absolute best place to go to business school.
MBASchooled: What’s been the best experience at Stern so far?
Jill: I’m about to for a spring break trip to Japan with 100 of my classmates, so I have a feeling that will be up there! Up to this point, though, I think meeting and spending time with my incredible classmates has been the best experience of all. Stern takes their core value of “IQ + EQ” very seriously, and everyone I have met here has been extremely accomplished and personable, yet very humble.
MBASchooled: What’s been the most challenging aspect of your 1st year of business school?
Jill: I think just trying to fit everything in! I certainly didn’t realize how busy I would be as an MBA student, especially during the first semester when I was balancing schoolwork, recruiting events, extracurricular activities, and a social life. There is so much going on at any one time, and it forces you to make some difficult choices about how to allocate your time.
MBASchooled: Tell us about an activity that you’ve participated in outside of the classroom?
Jill: Stern’s Luxury & Retail Club has a program called the Luxury & Retail Consulting Corps, which pairs teams of Stern students with retail businesses in New York who are looking for help with a strategic initiative. In the fall, I worked with the owner of a small, premium whisky company called Brenne Whisky to develop a go-to-market strategy for her next product, due out this fall. This semester, I’m working on another project through the LRCC for Bark & Co., a company that provides a monthly subscription service for dog owners that includes dog treats and toys, helping them think through how to expand their target market to additional segments.
MBASchooled: What are you interested in recruiting for, and what made you interested in this?
Jill: I’m looking for an internship with a growing retailer, ideally in a strategic function. Retail has been a personal interest of mine ever since I was young. I used to go into stores with my mom, picking up every item of clothing to see what it looked and felt like, and folding it perfectly before placing it back on the shelf. From a young age, I understood what brand messaging was and knew which brands I wanted to be associated with and which ones I didn’t, which drove my purchasing behavior. As an MBA, this has manifested itself in a keen interest in consumer behavior and company branding, and an interest in how to better align strategy to connect with consumers as companies grow.
MBASchooled: What are some ways in which you’ve been able to explore this interest so far in business school?
Jill: New York is a retail mecca, so it’s been amazing how many opportunities have presented themselves. One of my classes is a project-based course, which partners teams of Stern MBA students with fashion designers through the Council of Fashion Designers of America. This semester, I’m working with Tory Burch on the launch of her athletic apparel line, coming out this fall. Beyond that, on almost a weekly basis, I’ve been able to chat with alumni who work in retail in New York, attend events/conferences, and hear from notable speakers in the industry.
MBASchooled: What advice do you have for prospective MBA applicants?
Jill: Know why you want to go to school and what you want to pursue. Of course, being in school is a great time to explore different interests, but you would be shocked how quickly time passes and how quickly you’re expected to start recruiting for summer internships and full-time opportunities. You absolutely cannot do everything you want to do, so it’s important to come in understanding your personal priorities.
MBASchooled: What are some of your top lessons learned from your first year at Stern?
Jill: Prioritizing in business school doesn’t have to be the same as prioritizing during your day job: not everything is mandatory. Yes, we’re all Type A people who want to do it all. But some days, you’re going to wake up exhausted, and it can be totally okay to skip a class that’s going to be recorded and posted online or choose not to go to an optional extracurricular activity in order to get a workout in or catch up with a friend you have been trying to see. The real world will creep back in soon enough!
MBASchooled: When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Jill: I was one of those crazy kids who never knew what she wanted to be when she grew up. I was always kind of equally interested in lots of different things. In school, for example, I could never choose a favorite subject – I always enjoyed and did equally well in each, from English to math to science to social studies. I think that’s what led me to consulting and eventually business school – that curiosity and inability to commit to a path!